With over 60 games supporting the phone at launch and many more on the way, there’s a staggering amount of titles to sift through. With that in mind, we’ve compiled this handy list of the very best games currently available, and we’ll even explain why they’re so much better on the Xperia Play.

Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus

We loved Gameloft’s Call of Duty clone when we reviewed the bog-standard Android version a while back, but the introduction of the Xperia Play’s buttons and dual touch pads really makes a difference.

Whereas before we found ourselves occasionally cursing the touch screen interface, now we’re able to dispatch bad guys with clinical accuracy - all thanks to Sony Ericsson’s gaming-centric handset. To cut a long story short, an already brilliant game is improved dramatically thanks to the introduction of physical controls.

Guerrilla Bob

What could be more perfect than playing Angry Mob’s twin stick shooter on a device that actually has twin sticks? OK, so they’re more like touch pads, but the principle is the same.

Guerrilla Bob played like a dream even via the touch screen, but on Xperia Play it’s given a new lease of life and becomes even more exciting and chaotic. The pin-sharp visuals are also perfect for impressing your pessimistic mates, and Bob’s deliberately corny dialogue is sure to have you clutching your sides.

One of the finest twin-stick blasters around just got even more essential.

N.O.V.A. 2

It may not be the most subtle tribute to Halo we’ve seen, but N.O.V.A. 2 offers top-quality FPS action in spades.

The visuals are simply jaw-dropping, and things are only enhanced by the Xperia Play’s physical interface. It’s the same story as it was with Modern Combat 2; an already fantastic game is bolstered by the addition of more precise and accurate controls.

If your PSP and DS-owning chums are always being disparaging about the gaming prowess of your Android handset, show them this and they’ll soon learn to zip their mouths.